AU2019352419B2

AU2019352419B2 - Refrigerator and method for controlling same

Info

Publication number: AU2019352419B2
Application number: AU2019352419A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yongjun BAE; Donghoon Lee; Wookyong Lee; Chongyoung PARK; Sunggyun SON; Seungseob YEOM
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2018-10-02
Filing date: 2019-10-01
Publication date: 2023-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2039-10-01
Also published as: EP3862676A4; CN112789460B; WO2020071741A1; US20210404724A1; AU2023204204A1; US12130063B2; CN112789460A; AU2019352419A1; US20240361060A1; EP3862676A1

Abstract

A refrigerator according to the present invention comprises: a storage compartment for storing food; a first temperature sensor for sensing the temperature in the storage compartment; a door for opening and closing the storage compartment; a cold air supply means for supplying cold air into the storage compartment; trays forming ice-making cells which are spaces in which water changes phase into ice due to the cold air; a second temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the water or ice in the ice-making cells; a heater for supplying heat to the trays; and a control unit for controlling the heater, wherein, after opening or closing of the door is sensed during the ice-making process, the control unit increases the cooling power of the cold air supply means if an increase in cooling power therefrom is determined to be needed on the basis of the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor, and decreases the amount of heat applied by the heater if a reduction in heat applied by the heater is determined to be needed on the basis of the change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor.

Description

REFRIGERATOR AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME

[Technical Field]

[1] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a method for controlling the

same.

[Background]

[2] In general, refrigerators are home appliances for storing foods at a low

temperature in a storage chamber that is covered by a door. The refrigerator may cool

the inside of the storage space by using cold air to store the stored food in a

refrigerated or frozen state. Generally, an ice maker for making ice is provided in the

refrigerator. The ice maker makes ice by cooling water after accommodating the

water supplied from a water supply source or a water tank into a tray.

[3] The ice maker may separate the made ice from the ice tray in a heating manner

or twisting manner.

[4] For example, the ice maker through which water is automatically supplied and

the ice automatically separated may be opened upward so that the mode ice is

pumped up.

[5] As described above, the ice made in the ice maker may have at least one flat

surface such as crescent or cubic shape.

[6] When the ice has a spherical shape, it is more convenient to use the ice, and

also, it is possible to provide different feeling of use to a user. Also, even when the

made ice is stored, a contact area between the ice cubes may be minimized to

minimize a mat of the ice cubes.

92121828.3

[7] An ice maker is disclosed in Korean Registration No. 10-1850918 (hereinafter,

referred to as a "prior art document 1") that is a prior art document.

[8] The ice maker disclosed in the prior art document 1 includes an upper tray in

which a plurality of upper cells, each of which has a hemispherical shape, are

arranged, and which includes a pair of link guide parts extending upward from both

side ends thereof, a lower tray in which a plurality of upper cells, each of which has a

hemispherical shape and which is rotatably connected to the upper tray, a rotation

shaft connected to rear ends of the lower tray and the upper tray to allow the lower

tray to rotate with respect to the upper tray, a pair of links having one end connected

to the lower tray and the other end connected to the link guide part, and an upper

ejecting pin assembly connected to each of the pair of links in at state in which both

ends thereof are inserted into the link guide part and elevated together with the upper

ejecting pin assembly.

[9] In the prior art document 1, although the spherical ice is made by the

hemispherical upper cell and the hemispherical lower cell, since the ice is made at the

same time in the upper and lower cells, bubbles containing water are not completely

discharged but are dispersed in the water to make opaque ice.

[10] An ice maker is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-269172

(hereinafter, referred to as a "prior art document 2") that is a prior art document.

[11] The ice maker disclosed in the prior art document 2 includes an ice making

plate and a heater for heating a lower portion of water supplied to the ice making plate.

[12] In the case of the ice maker disclosed in the prior art document 2, water on one

surface and a bottom surface of an ice making block is heated by the heater in an ice

92121828.3 making process. Thus, when solidification proceeds on the surface of the water, and also, convection occurs in the water to make transparent ice.

[13] When growth of the transparent ice proceeds to reduce a volume of the water

within the ice making block, the solidification rate is gradually increased, and thus,

sufficient convection suitable for the solidification rate may not occur.

[14] Thus, in the case of the prior art document 2, when about 2/3 of water is

solidified, a heating amount of the heater increases to suppress an increase in the

solidification rate.

[15] However, according to prior art document 2, since the heating amount of the

heater is increased simply when the volume of water is reduced, it is difficult to make

ice having uniform transparency according to the shape of the ice.

[16] It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations

associated with the prior art, provide a refrigerator and a method of controlling the

same, or to at least provide the public with a useful alternative

[Summary]

[17] Embodiments may provide a refrigerator capable of making ice having uniform

transparency as a whole regardless of shape, and a method for controlling the same.

[18] Embodiments may provide a refrigerator capable of making spherical ice and

having uniform transparency for each unit height of the spherical ice, and a method for

controlling the same.

[19] Embodiments may provide a refrigerator capable of making ice having uniform

transparency as a whole by varying a heating amount of a transparent ice heater in

92121828.3 response to the change in the heat transfer amount between water in an ice making cell and cold air in a storage chamber, and a method for controlling the same.

[20] Embodiments may provide a refrigerator wherein, if it is necessary to reduce a

heating amount of a transparent ice heater after an opening/closing of a door is

detected during an ice making process, the heating amount of the transparent ice

heater is reduced to prevent deterioration of transparency of ice and reduce the power

consumption of a transparent ice heater, and a method for controlling the same.

[21] Embodiments may provide a refrigerator wherein, if it is necessary to increase

cooling power of a cold air supply part for supply of cold air after an opening/closing of

a door is detected during an ice making process, the cooling power of the cold air

supply part is increased to quickly lower a temperature of a storage chamber, and an

output of a transparent ice heater is increased in response thereto, thereby making ice

having uniform transparency as a whole, and a method for controlling the same.

[22] According to a first aspect, the present disclosure may broadly provide a

refrigerator comprising: a storage chamber configured to store food; a first

temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the storage chamber; a door

configured to open or close the storage chamber; a cold air supply part configured to

supply cold air into the storage chamber; a tray configured to define an ice making cell

having a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by the cold air; a second

temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water or the ice within

the ice making cell; a heater configured to supply heat into the tray; and a controller

configured to control at least the heater, wherein, the controller: (a) determines

whether it is necessary to increase cooling power of the cold air supply part based on

the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor after detecting an 92121828.3 opening/closing of the door during an ice making process, and upon such determination, increases the cooling power of the cold air supply part, and (b) determines whether it is necessary to decrease a heating amount of the heater based on a change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor after detecting an opening/closing of the door during an ice making process, and upon such determination, decreases the heating amount of the heater, decrease the heating amount of the heater when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is higher than or equal to a second set temperature after detecting the opening/closing of the door, or decrease the heating amount of the heater when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor after detecting the opening/closing of the door is increased by more than a second set value than the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor before detecting the opening/closing of the door, or decrease the heating amount of the heater when the current heating amount of the heater is greater than a reference value.

[23] In an embodiment, a refrigerator may include a tray configured to define a

portion of an ice making cell, a heater configured to supply heat to the tray, and a

controller configured to control the heater.

[24] The refrigerator may further include a storage chamber and a cold air supply

part configured to supply cold air to the storage chamber. Water in the ice making

cell may be phase-changed into ice by the cold air supplied to the storage chamber.

[25] The controller may turn on the heater, which supplies heat to the ice making

cell, in at least partial section while the cold air supply part supplies cold air to the ice

making cell so that bubbles in the water within the ice making cell moves from a

92121828.3 portion, at which the ice is made, toward the water that is in a liquid state to make transparent ice.

[26] When the opening/closing of the door is detected in a state in which the heater

is turned on, the controller may determine whether it is necessary to vary the cooling

power of the cooling air supply part.

[27] In addition, when the opening/closing of the door is detected in a state in which

the heater is turned on, the controller may determine whether it is necessary to vary

the heating amount of the heater.

[28] As an example, the controller may determine whether it is necessary to

increase the cooling power of the cooling air supply part, based on the temperature

sensed by a first temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the

storage chamber.

[29] When the controller determines: (a) whether it is unnecessary to increase the

cooling power of the cold air supply part based on the temperature sensed by the first

temperature sensor after detecting the opening/closing of the door during an ice

making process, and upon such determination, the controller may maintain the cooling

power of the cold air supply part, and (b) whether it is unnecessary to decrease the

heating power of the heater based on the change in temperature sensed by the

second temperature sensor, and upon such determination, the controller may maintain

the heating amount of the heater.

[30] The controller may be configured to: (a) increase the cooling power of the cold

air supply part when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is equal

to or higher than a first set temperature after detecting the opening/closing of the door,

92121828.3 and (b) maintain the cooling power of the cold air supply part when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is maintained below the first set temperature.

[31] The controller may be configured to: (a) increase the cooling power of the cold

air supply part when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor after

detecting the opening/closing of the door is higher by more than a first set value than

the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor after detecting the opening of

the door, and (b) maintain the cooling power of the cold air supply part when the

temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is not higher by more than the first

set value than the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor after detecting

the opening of the door.

[32] The controller may be configured to: (a) decrease the heating amount of the

heater when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is higher than

or equal to a second set temperature after detecting the opening/closing of the door,

and (b) maintain the heating amount of the heater when the temperature sensed by

the second temperature sensor is maintained below the second set temperature.

[33] The controller may configured to: (a) decrease the heating amount of the heater

when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor after detecting the

opening/closing of the door is increased by more than a second set value than the

temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor before detecting the

opening/closing of the door, , and (b) maintain the heating amount of the heater when

the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is not increased by more

than the second set value than the temperature sensed by the second temperature

sensor before detecting the opening/closing of the door is detected.

92121828.3

[34] The controller may be configured to: (a) maintain the heating amount of the

heater when a current heating amount of the heater is less than or equal to a

reference value after detecting the opening/closing of the door, and (b) decrease the

heating amount of the heater when the current heating amount of the heater is greater

than the reference value.

[35] The controller may be configured to turn off the heater when it is determined

that it is necessary to decrease the heating amount of the heater.

[36] The controller may be configured to increase the heating amount of the heater

when the cooling power of the cold air supply part increases.

[37] The controller may be configured to control the heater such that the heating

amount of the heater varies according to a mass per unit height of water in the ice

making cell.

[38] A plurality of sections in the refrigerator may be defined: (a) based on the unit

height of water, and (b) a reference heating amount of the heater in each of the

plurality of sections is predetermined.

[39] The controller may be configured to decrease the heating amount of the heater

in a current section when it is determined that it is necessary to decrease the heating

amount of the heater after detecting the opening/closing of the door is detected during

the ice making process.

[40] The controller may be configured to operate the heater with the reference

heating amount corresponding to a subsequent section when the temperature sensed

by the second temperature sensor reaches a reference temperature corresponding to

a section immediately next to the current section.

92121828.3

[41] The tray may comprise: a first tray configured to define a portion of the ice

making cell and a second tray configured to define another portion of the ice making

cell, and the second tray contacts the first tray in the ice making process and is

spaced apart from the first tray in an ice separation process.

[42] One of the first tray and the second tray may be made of a non-metal material

so as to decrease a heat transfer rate of the heater.

[43] The second tray may be disposed below the first tray, the heater may be

disposed adjacent to the second tray such that water starts to freeze from above in the

ice making cell, and at least the second tray may be made of a non-metal material.

[44] At least one of the first tray and the second tray may be made of a flexible or

soft material such that the shape thereof of the first and the second tray may be

deformed during the ice separation process and is returned to an original shape.

[45] When it is necessary to increase the cooling power of the cold air supply part,

the controller may increase the cooling power of the cold air supply part, and when it is

unnecessary to increase the cooling power of the cold air supply part, the controller

may maintain the cooling power of the cooling air supply part.

[46] For example, when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor

reaches a first set temperature or higher, the controller may increase the cooling

power of the cold air supply part, and when the temperature sensed by the first

temperature sensor is maintained below the first set temperature, the controller may

maintain the cooling power of the cold air supply part.

[47] As another example, when the temperature sensed by the first temperature

sensor after the opening/closing of the door is detected is higher by more than a first

set value than the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor when the 92121828.3 opening of the door is sensed, the controller may increase the cooling power of the cold air supply part. On the other hand, when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is not higher by more than the first set value than the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor when the opening of the door is detected, the controller may maintain the cooling power of the cold air supply part.

[48] According to an embodiment, the controller may determine whether it is

necessary to reduce the heating amount of the heater, based on the change in

temperature sensed by a second temperature sensor configured to the temperature of

the ice making cell.

[49] When the controller determines that it is necessary to reduce the heating

amount of the heater, the controller may reduce the heating amount of the heater, and

when the controller determines that it is unnecessary to reduce the heating amount of

the heater, the controller may maintain the heating amount of the heater.

[50] As another example, the controller may reduce the heating amount of the

transparent ice heater when the temperature sensed by the second temperature

sensor is higher than or equal to a second set temperature after the opening/closing of

the door is detected. On the other hand, when the temperature sensed by the

second temperature sensor is maintained below the second set temperature, the

controller may maintain the heating amount of the heater.

[51] As another example, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature

sensor after the opening/closing of the door is detected is increased by more than a

second set value than the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor

before the opening/closing of the door is detected, the controller may reduce the

heating amount of the heater. On the other hand, when the temperature sensed by 92121828.3 the second temperature sensor is not increased by more than the second set value than the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor before the opening/closing of the door is detected, the controller may maintain the heating amount of the heater.

[52] As another example, after the opening/closing of the door is detected, if the

current heating amount of the heater is less than or equal to a reference value, the

controller may maintain the heating amount of the heater, and when the current

heating amount of the heater is greater than the reference value, the controller may

reduce the heating amount of the heater.

[53] For example, when the controller determines that it is necessary to reduce the

heating amount of the heater, the controller may turn off the heater.

[54] When the cooling power of the cold air supply part increases, the controller may

increase the heating amount of the heater.

[55] The ice making time when the opening/closing of the door is detected and the

heating amount of the heater is reduced may be longer than the ice making time when

the opening/closing of the door is not detected.

[56] The tray may include a first tray configured to define a portion of the ice making

cell and a second tray configured to define another portion of the ice making cell.

The second tray may contact the first tray in the ice making process and may be

spaced apart from the first tray in an ice separation process. The second tray may be

connected to a driver to receive power from the driver.

[57] Due to the operation of the driver, the second tray may move from a water

supply position to an ice making position. Also, due to the operation of the driver, the

second tray may move from the ice making position to an ice separation position. 92121828.3

The water supply of the ice making cell starts when the second tray moves to a water

supply position. After the water supply is completed, the second tray may be moved

to the ice making position. After the second tray moves to the ice making position,

the cold air supply part may supply the cold air to the ice making cell.

[58] When the ice is completely made in the ice making cell, the second tray move

to the ice separation position in a forward direction so as to take out the ice in the ice

making cell. After the second tray moves to the ice separation position, the second

tray may move to the water supply position in the reverse direction, and the water

supply may start again.

[59] According to one aspect, the controller may control one or more of the cooling

power of the cold air supply part and the heating amount of the heater to vary

according to a mass per unit height of water in the ice making cell, so that the

transparency for each unit height of the water in the ice making cell is uniform.

[60] A plurality of sections may be defined based on the unit height of water. A

reference heating amount of the heater in each of the plurality of sections may be

predetermined. When the ice making cell has a spherical shape, the controller may

perform control so that the heating amount of the heater decreases and then

increases during the ice making process.

[61] When the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor reaches the

reference temperature corresponding to the section immediately next to the current

section, the controller may operate the heater with the reference heating amount

corresponding to the next section.

[62] One of the first tray and the second tray may be made of a non-metal material

so as to reduce a heat transfer rate of the heater. The second tray may be disposed 92121828.3 below the first tray. The heater may be disposed adjacent to the second tray so that water starts to freeze from above in the ice making cell. At least the second tray may be made of a non-metal material. At least one of the first tray and the second tray may be made of a flexible material so that the shape thereof is deformed during the ice separation process and is returned to the original shape.

[63] According to another aspect, a method for controlling a refrigerator relates to a

method for controlling a refrigerator that includes a first tray accommodated in a

storage chamber, a second tray configured to define an ice making cell together with

the first tray, a driver configured to move the second tray, and a heater configured to

supply heat to at least one of the first tray and the second tray.

[64] According to another aspect, the method for controlling a refrigerator may

include: performing water supply of the ice making cell when the second tray moves to

a water supply position; performing ice making after the water supply is completed and

the second tray moves from the water supply position to an ice making position in a

reverse direction; turning on the heater during an ice making process; detecting

opening/closing of a door during the ice making process; when the opening/closing of

the door is detected, determining whether it is necessary to reduce a heating amount

of the heater, based on a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of

the ice making cell; and when it is necessary to reduce the heating amount of the

heater, reducing the heating amount of the heater, and operating a controller to:

decrease the heating amount of the heater when the temperature sensed by the

second temperature sensor is higher than or equal to a second set temperature after

detecting the opening/closing of the door, or decrease the heating amount of the

heater when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor after 92121828.3 detecting the opening/closing of the door is increased by more than a second set value than the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor before detecting the opening/closing of the door, or decrease the heating amount of the heater when the current heating amount of the heater is greater than a reference value.

[65] According to another aspect, the present disclosure may broadly provide a

method for controlling a refrigerator comprising a first tray accommodated in a storage

chamber, a second tray configured to define an ice making cell together with the first

tray, and a heater configured to supply heat to at least one of the first tray and the

second tray, the method comprising: supplying water to the ice making cell when the

second tray moves to a water supply position; generating ice after the water supply is

completed and the second tray moves from the water supply position to an ice making;

turning on the heater during an ice making process; detecting opening or closing of a

door during the ice making process; when the opening or closing of the door is

detected, determining whether it is necessary to decrease a heating amount of the

heater, based on a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the ice

making cell; and when it is necessary to decrease the heating amount of the heater,

reducing the heating amount of the heater.

[66] The method may further comprise the step of: maintaining the heating amount

of the heater when it is unnecessary to decrease the heating amount of the heater.

[67] The method may further comprise the step of: turning off the heater in a

process in which the heating amount of the heater is decreased.

[68] The method may further comprise the steps of: determining whether ice making

is completed; and when the ice making is completed, moving the second tray from the

ice making position to an ice separation position. 92121828.3

[69] When it is unnecessary to reduce the heating amount of the heater, the heating

amount of the heater may be maintained. For example, the heater may be turned off

in a process in which the heating amount of the heater is reduced.

[70] The method for controlling the refrigerator may further include: determining

whether the ice making is completed; and when the ice making is completed, moving

the second tray from the ice making position to an ice separation position in a forward

direction.

[71] According to another aspect, a method for controlling a refrigerator relates to a

method for controlling a refrigerator, which includes a first tray and a second tray

configured to define a spherical ice making cell, a first temperature sensor configured

to sense a temperature of a storage chamber in which the first tray and the second

tray are disposed, a second temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of

the ice making cell, a heater configured to supply heat to the ice making cell, and a

cold air supply part configured to supply cold air to the ice making cell.

[72] The method for controlling the refrigerator may include: after the water supply of

the ice making cell is completed, starting ice making by supplying cold air to the ice

making cell by the cold air supply part; turning on the heater after the ice making

starts; determining whether the ice making is complete; and when the ice making is

complete, moving the second tray from the ice making position to the ice separation

position in a forward direction.

[73] During the ice making process, the controller may determine whether

opening/closing of a door for opening or closing the storage chamber is detected.

[74] If the opening/closing of the door is detected, when the controller determines

that it is necessary to increase cooling power of the cold air supply part based on the 92121828.3 temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor, the controller may increase the cooling power of the cold air supply part. If it is determined that it is unnecessary to increase the cooling power of the cold air supply part, the cooling power of the cold air supply part may be maintained. When it is determined that it is necessary to reduce the heating amount of the heater based on the change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor, the heating amount of the heater may be reduced.

When it is determined that it is unnecessary to reduce the heating amount of the

heater, the heating amount of the heater may be maintained.

[75] According to further another aspect, a refrigerator may include a controller that,

when a first transparent ice operation and a second transparent ice operation for door

load response collide, preferentially performs the second transparent ice operation

and stops the first transparent ice operation.

[76] The refrigerator may include: a cold air supply part configured to supply cold air

to a storage chamber; a first temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of

the storage chamber; a first tray disposed in the storage chamber and configured to

define a portion of an ice making cell that is a space in which water is phase-changed

into ice by the cold air; a second tray configured to define another portion of the ice

making cell, the second tray being connected to a driver to contact the first tray during

an ice making process and to be spaced apart from the first tray during an ice

separation process; a water supply part configured to supply water into the ice making

cell; a second temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water or

the ice within the ice making cell; and a heater disposed adjacent to at least one of the

first tray or the second tray.

92121828.3

[77] The first transparent ice operation may include performing control so that, after

the water supply of the ice making cell is completed, the controller controls the cold air

supply part to supply cold air to the ice making cell, the heater is turned on in at least

some sections while the cold air supply part supplies cold air, and the turned-on heater

is variable in a predetermined reference heating amount in each of a plurality of pre

divided sections.

[78] The second transparent ice operation may include a process of performing

control so that, when the start condition of the door load response operation for the

cold air supply part is satisfied, the controller increases the cooling power of the cold

air supply part in order to remove the heat load inputted to the storage chamber by

opening or closing the door, when the start condition of the door load response

operation for the heater is satisfied, the controller reduces the deterioration of the ice

making efficiency due to the lowering of the ice making rate caused by the inputted

heat load, and the controller controls the heating amount of the heater to be smaller

than the heating amount during the first transparent ice operation in order to maintain

the ice making rate within a predetermined range to uniformly maintain the

transparency of ice.

[79] The case in which the start condition of the door load response operation for

the cold air supply part is satisfied may include at least one of a case in which the first

set time elapses from the detection of the opening of the door, a case in which the

temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor becomes higher than the first set

temperature after the opening/closing of the door is detected, and a case in which the

temperature is higher by more than the first set value than the temperature sensed by

the first temperature sensor after the opening/closing of the door is detected. 92121828.3

[80] The case in which the start condition of the door load response operation for

the heater is satisfied may include at least one of a case in which the second set time

elapses from the detection of the opening of the door, a case in which the temperature

sensed by the second temperature sensor becomes higher than or equal to the

second set temperature after the opening/closing of the door is detected, a case in

which the temperature is higher by more than a second set value than the temperature

sensed by the second temperature sensor after the opening/closing of the door is

detected, a case in which the change in temperature sensed by the second

temperature sensor per unit time after the opening/closing of the door is detected is

greater than zero, a case in which the current heating amount of the heater is greater

than a reference value after the opening/closing of the door is detected, and a case in

which the start condition of the door load response operation for the cold air supply

parts is satisfied.

[81] The second set value may be set differently according to a plurality of sections,

and at least one of the second set values may be greater than the first set value.

[82] After both the end condition of the door load response operation for the cold air

supply part and the end condition of the door load response operation for the heater

are satisfied, the controller may control the first transparent ice operation to resume.

[83] The case in which the end condition of the door load response operation for the

cold air supply part is satisfied may include at least one of a case in which the A set

time elapses from the start of the door load response operation, a case in which the

temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor becomes less than or equal to the

A set temperature after the door load response operation starts, and a case in which

92121828.3 the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is lower than or equal to the A set value after the door load response operation starts.

[84] The case in which the end condition of the defrosting response operation for the

heater is satisfied may include at least one of a case in which the B set time elapses

after the door load response operation starts, a case in which the temperature sensed

by the second temperature sensor after the door load response operation starts is

equal to or lower than the B set temperature, a case in which, after the door load

response operation starts, the temperature is lower than the temperature detected by

the second temperature sensor by the B set value or more, a case in which the

amount of change in temperature detected by the second temperature sensor per unit

time after the door load response operation starts is less than zero, and a case in

which the door load process operation for the cold air supply part is ended.

[85] The plurality of pre-divided sections may include at least one of a case in which

the sections are classified based on the unit height of the water to be iced, a case in

which the sections are divided based on the elapsed time after the second tray moves

to the ice making position, and a case in which the sections are divided based on the

temperature detected by the second temperature sensor after the second tray moves

to the ice making position.

[86] When the ice making cell has a spherical shape, the controller may perform

control so that the heating amount of the heater decreases and then increases during

the ice making process.

[87] According to embodiments, since the heater is turned on in at least partial

section while the cold air supply part supplies cold air, an ice making rate may

decrease by the heat of the heater so that the bubbles in the water inside the ice 92121828.3 making cell move toward the liquid water from the portion at which the ice is made, thereby making the transparent ice.

[88] In particular, according to the embodiments, one or more of the cooling power

of the cold air supply part and the heating amount of the heater may be controlled to

vary according to the mass per unit height of water in the ice making cell to make the

ice having the uniform transparency as a whole regardless of the shape of the ice

making cell.

[89] In addition, after the opening/closing of the door is detected, the cooling power

of the cold air supply part is varied based on the temperature sensed by the first

temperature sensor. Thus, if the temperature of the freezing compartment rises, the

temperature of the freezing compartment can be quickly lowered. In response to this,

since the heating amount of the transparent ice heater is varied, it is possible to

minimize a decrease in the transparency of ice.

[90] In addition, if the temperature of the ice making cell rises, power consumption

of the transparent ice heater can be reduced by reducing the heating amount of the

transparent ice heater.

[91] The term "comprising" as used in the specification and claims means

''consisting at least in part of." When interpreting each statement in this specification

that includes the term "comprising," features other than that or those prefaced by the

term may also be present. Related terms "comprise" and "comprises" are to be

interpreted in the same manner.

[92] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information

derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as,

an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication 92121828.3

(or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general

knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

[93] FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

[94] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment.

[95] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a bracket is removed

from the ice maker of FIG. 2.

[96] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ice maker according to an

embodiment.

[97] FIG. 5 is a cutaway cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3 for

showing a second temperature sensor installed in an ice maker according to an

embodiment.

[98] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an ice maker when a second tray

is disposed at a water supply position according to an embodiment.

[99] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a control of a refrigerator according to an

embodiment.

[100] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a process of making ice in the ice maker

according to an embodiment.

[101] FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a height reference depending on a relative

position of the transparent heater with respect to the ice making cell.

[102] FIG. 10 is a view for explaining an output of the transparent heater per unit

height of water within the ice making cell.

92121828.3

[103] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state in which supply of water is completed at a

water supply position.

[104] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a state in which ice is made at an ice making

position.

[105] FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a state in which a second tray is separated from a

first tray during an ice separation process.

[106] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a state in which a second tray is moved to an ice

separation position during an ice separation process.

[107] FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a method for controlling a refrigerator when an

opening/closing of a door is detected during an ice making process.

[108] FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a change in output of a transparent ice heater for

each unit height of water and a change in temperature sensed by a second

temperature sensor during an ice making process.

[Detailed Description]

[109] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in

detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that when

components in the drawings are designated by reference numerals, the same

components have the same reference numerals as far as possible even though the

components are illustrated in different drawings.

[110] Also, in the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terms

such as first, second, A, B, (a) and (b) may be used. Each of the terms is merely

used to distinguish the corresponding component from other components, and does

not delimit an essence, an order or a sequence of the corresponding component. It

92121828.3 should be understood that when one component is "connected", "coupled" or "joined" to another component, the former may be directly connected or jointed to the latter or may be "connected", coupled" or "joined" to the latter with a third component interposed therebetween.

[111] FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

[112] Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator according to an embodiment may include a

cabinet 14 including a storage chamber and a door that opens and closes the storage

chamber.

[113] The storage chamber may include a refrigerating compartment 18 and a

freezing compartment 32. The refrigerating compartment 14 is disposed at an upper

side, and the freezing compartment 32 is disposed at a lower side. Each of the

storage chambers may be opened and closed individually by each door. For another

example, the freezing compartment may be disposed at the upper side and the

refrigerating compartment may be disposed at the lower side. Alternatively, the

freezing compartment may be disposed at one side of left and right sides, and the

refrigerating compartment may be disposed at the other side.

[114] The freezing compartment 32 may be divided into an upper space and a lower

space, and a drawer 40 capable of being withdrawn from and inserted into the lower

space may be provided in the lower space.

[115] The door may include a plurality of doors 10, 20, 30 for opening and closing the

refrigerating compartment 18 and the freezing compartment 32. The plurality of

doors 10, 20, and 30 may include some or all of the doors 10 and 20 for opening and

closing the storage chamber in a rotatable manner and the door 30 for opening and

closing the storage chamber in a sliding manner. 92121828.3

[116] The freezing compartment 32 may be provided to be separated into two spaces

even though the freezing compartment 32 is opened and closed by one door 30.

[117] In this embodiment, the freezing compartment 32 may be referred to as a first

storage chamber, and the refrigerating compartment 18 may be referred to as a

second storage chamber.

[118] The freezing compartment 32 may be provided with an ice maker 200 capable

of making ice. The ice maker 200 may be disposed, for example, in an upper space

of the freezing compartment 32.

[119] An ice bin 600 in which the ice made by the ice maker 200 falls to be stored

may be disposed below the ice maker 200. A user may take out the ice bin 600 from

the freezing compartment 32 to use the ice stored in the ice bin 600. The ice bin 600

may be mounted on an upper side of a horizontal wall that partitions an upper space

and a lower space of the freezing compartment 32 from each other.

[120] Although not shown, the cabinet 14 is provided with a duct supplying cold air to

the ice maker 200. The duct guides the cold air heat-exchanged with a refrigerant

flowing through the evaporator to the ice maker 200. For example, the duct may be

disposed behind the cabinet 14 to discharge the cold air toward a front side of the

cabinet 14. The ice maker 200 may be disposed at a front side of the duct.

Although not limited, a discharge hole of the duct may be provided in one or more of a

rear wall and an upper wall of the freezing compartment 32.

[121] Although the above-described ice maker 200 is provided in the freezing

compartment 32, a space in which the ice maker 200 is disposed is not limited to the

freezing compartment 32. For example, the ice maker 200 may be disposed in

various spaces as long as the ice maker 200 receives the cold air. 92121828.3

[122] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment, FIG.

3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a bracket is removed from the ice

maker of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ice maker

according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cutaway cross-sectional view taken along

line A-A of FIG. 3 for showing a second temperature sensor installed in an ice maker

according to an embodiment.

[123] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an ice maker when a second tray

is disposed at a water supply position according to an embodiment.

[124] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, each component of the ice maker 200 may be

provided inside or outside the bracket 220, and thus, the ice maker 200 may constitute

one assembly.

[125] The bracket 220 may be installed at, for example, the upper wall of the freezing

compartment 32. A water supply part 240 may be installed on the upper side of the

inner surface of the bracket 220. The water supply part 240 may be provided with

openings at upper and lower sides so that water supplied to the upper side of the

water supply part 240 may be guided to the lower side of the water supply part 240.

Since the upper opening of the water supply part 240 is larger than the lower opening

thereof, a discharge range of water guided downward through the water supply part

240 may be limited. A water supply pipe to which water is supplied may be installed

above the water supply part 240. The water supplied to the water supply part 240

may move downward. The water supply part 240 may prevent the water discharged

from the water supply pipe from dropping from a high position, thereby preventing the

water from splashing. Since the water supply part 240 is disposed below the water

supply pipe, the water may be guided downward without splashing up to the water 92121828.3 supply part 240, and an amount of splashing water may be reduced even if the water moves downward due to the lowered height.

[126] The ice maker 200 may include an ice making cell 320a in which water is

phase-changed into ice by the cold air.

[127] The ice maker 200 may include a first tray 320 defining at least a portion of a

wall for providing the ice making cell 320a, and a second tray 380 defining at least

another portion of the wall for providing the ice making cell 320a.

[128] Although not limited, the ice making cell 320a may include a first cell 320b and

a second cell 320c. The first tray 320 may define the first cell 320b, and the second

tray 380 may define the second cell 320c.

[129] The second tray 380 may be disposed to be relatively movable with respect to

the first tray 320. The second tray 380 may linearly rotate or rotate. Hereinafter, the

rotation of the second tray 380 will be described as an example.

[130] For example, in an ice making process, the second tray 380 may move with

respect to the first tray 320 so that the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 contact

each other. When the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 contact each other, the

complete ice making cell 320a may be defined.

[131] On the other hand, the second tray 380 may move with respect to the first tray

320 during the ice making process after the ice making is completed, and the second

tray 380 may be spaced apart from the first tray 320.

[132] In this embodiment, the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may be arranged

in a vertical direction in a state in which the ice making cell 320a is formed.

Accordingly, the first tray 320 may be referred to as an upper tray, and the second tray

380 may be referred to as a lower tray. 92121828.3

[133] A plurality of ice making cells 320a may be defined by the first tray 320 and the

second tray 380. In FIG. 4, three ice making cells 320a are provided as an example.

[134] When water is cooled by cold air while water is supplied to the ice making cell

320a, ice having the same or similar shape as that of the ice making cell 320a may be

made.

[135] In this embodiment, for example, the ice making cell 320a maybe provided in a

spherical shape or a shape similar to a spherical shape. In this case, the first cell

320b may be provided in a spherical shape or a shape similar to a spherical shape.

Also, the second cell 320c may be provided in a spherical shape or a shape similar to

a spherical shape. The ice making cell 320a may have a rectangular parallelepiped

shape or a polygonal shape.

[136] The ice maker 200 may further include a first tray case 300 coupled to the first

tray 320.

[137] For example, the first tray case 300 may be coupled to the upper side of the

first tray 320. The first tray case 300 may be manufactured as a separate part from

the bracket 220 and then may be coupled to the bracket 220 or integrally formed with

the bracket 220.

[138] The ice maker 200 may further include a first heater case 280. An ice

separation heater 290 may be installed in the first heater case 280. The heater case

280 may be integrally formed with the first tray case 300 or may be separately formed.

[139] The ice separation heater 290 may be disposed at a position adjacent to the

first tray 320. The ice separation heater 290 may be, for example, a wire type heater.

For example, the ice separation heater 290 may be installed to contact the first tray

320 or may be disposed at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the first 92121828.3 tray 320. In any cases, the ice separation heater 290 may supply heat to the first tray

320, and the heat supplied to the first tray 320 may be transferred to the ice making

cell 320a.

[140] The ice maker 200 may further include a first tray cover 340 disposed below the

first tray 320.

[141] The first tray cover 340 may be provided with an opening corresponding to a

shape of the ice making cell 320a of the first tray 320 and may be coupled to a lower

surface of the first tray 320.

[142] The first tray case 300 may be provided with a guide slot 302 inclined at an

upper side and vertically extending at a lower side. The guide slot 302 may be

provided in a member extending upward from the first tray case 300. A guide

protrusion 262 of the first pusher 266, which will be described later, may be inserted

into the guide slot 302. Thus, the guide protrusion 266 may be guided along the

guide slot 302.

[143] The first pusher 260 may include at least one extension part 264. Forexample,

the first pusher 260 may include the extension part 264 provided with the same

number as the number of ice making cells 320a, but is not limited thereto. The

extension part 264 may push out the ice disposed in the ice making cell 320a during

the ice separation process. For example, the extension part 264 may be inserted into

the ice making cell 320a through the first tray case 300. Therefore, the first tray case

300 may be provided with a hole 304 through which a portion of the first pusher 260

passes.

[144] The guide protrusion 266 of the first pusher 260 may be coupled to a pusher

link 500. In this case, the guide protrusion 266 may be coupled to the pusher link 500 92121828.3 so as to be rotatable. Therefore, when the pusher link 500 moves, the first pusher

260 may also move along the guide slot 302.

[145] The ice maker 200 may further include a second tray case 400 coupled to the

second tray 380.

[146] The second tray case 400 may be disposed at a lower side of the second tray

to support the second tray 380. For example, at least a portion of the wall defining

the second cell 320a of the second tray 380 may be supported by the second tray

case 400.

[147] A spring 402 may be connected to one side of the second tray case 400. The

spring 402 may provide elastic force to the second tray case 400 to maintain a state in

which the second tray 380 contacts the first tray 320.

[148] The ice maker 200 may further include a second tray cover 360.

[149] The second tray 380 may include a circumferential wall 382 surrounding a

portion of the first tray 320 in a state of contacting the first tray 320. The second tray

cover 360 may cover the circumferential wall 382.

[150] The ice maker 200 may further include a second heater case 420. A

transparent ice heater 430 may be installed in the second heater case 420.

[151] The transparent ice heater 430 will be described in detail.

[152] The controller 800 according to this embodiment may control the transparent

ice heater 430 so that heat is supplied to the ice making cell 320a in at least partial

section while cold air is supplied to the ice making cell 320a to make the transparent

ice.

[153] An ice making rate may be delayed so that bubbles in water within the ice

making cell 320a may move from a portion at which ice is made toward liquid water by 92121828.3 the heat of the transparent ice heater 430, thereby making transparent ice in the ice maker 200. That is, the bubbles in water may be induced to escape to the outside of the ice making cell 320a or to be collected into a predetermined position in the ice making cell 320a.

[154] When a cold air supply part 900 to be described later supplies cold air to the ice

making cell 320a, if the ice making rate is high, the bubbles in the water inside the ice

making cell 320a may be frozen without moving from the portion at which the ice is

made to the liquid water, and thus, transparency of the ice may be reduced.

[155] On the contrary, when the cold air supply part 900 supplies the cold air to the

ice making cell 320a, if the ice making rate is low, the above limitation may be solved

to increase in transparency of the ice. However, there is a limitation in which an ice

making time increases.

[156] Accordingly, the transparent ice heater 430 may be disposed at one side of the

ice making cell 320a so that the heater locally supplies heat to the ice making cell

320a, thereby increasing in transparency of the made ice while reducing the ice

making time.

[157] When the transparent ice heater 430 is disposed on one side of the ice making

cell 320a, the transparent ice heater 430 may be made of a material having thermal

conductivity less than that of the metal to prevent heat of the transparent ice heater

430 from being easily transferred to the other side of the ice making cell 320a.

[158] At least one of the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may be made of a

resin including plastic so that the ice attached to the trays 320 and 380 is separated in

the ice making process.

92121828.3

[159] At least one of the first tray 320 or the second tray 380 may be made of a

flexible or soft material so that the tray deformed by the pushers 260 and 540 is easily

restored to its original shape in the ice separation process.

[160] The transparent ice heater 430 may be disposed at a position adjacent to the

second tray 380. The transparent ice heater 430 may be, for example, a wire type

heater. For example, the transparent ice heater 430 may be installed to contact the

second tray 380 or may be disposed at a position spaced a predetermined distance

from the second tray 380. For another example, the second heater case 420 may not

be separately provided, but the transparent heater 430 may be installed on the second

tray case 400.

[161] In any cases, the transparent ice heater 430 may supply heat to the second tray

380, and the heat supplied to the second tray 380 may be transferred to the ice

making cell 320a.

[162] The ice maker 200 may further include a driver 480 that provides driving force.

The second tray 380 may relatively move with respect to the first tray 320 by receiving

the driving force of the driver 480.

[163] A through-hole 282 may be defined in an extension part 281 extending

downward in one side of the first tray case 300. A through-hole 404 may be defined

in the extension part 403 extending in one side of the second tray case 400. The ice

maker 200 may further include a shaft 440 that passes through the through-holes 282

and 404 together.

[164] A rotation arm 460 may be provided at each of both ends of the shaft 440.

The shaft 440 may rotate by receiving rotational force from the driver 480.

92121828.3

[165] One end of the rotation arm 460 may be connected to one end of the spring

402, and thus, a position of the rotation arm 460 may move to an initial value by

restoring force when the spring 402 is tensioned.

[166] The driver 480 may include a motor and a plurality of gears.

[167] A full ice detection lever 520 maybe connected to the driver 480. Thefullice

detection lever 520 may also rotate by the rotational force provided by the driver 480.

[168] The full ice detection lever 520 may have a ' shape as a whole. For

example, the full ice detection lever 520 may include a first portion 521 and a pair of

second portions 522 extending in a direction crossing the first portion 521 at both ends

of the first portion 521. One of the pair of second portions 522 may be coupled to the

driver 480, and the other may be coupled to the bracket 220 or the first tray case 300.

The full ice detection lever 520 may rotate to detect ice stored in the ice bin 600.

[169] The driver 480 may further include a cam that rotates by the rotational power of

the motor.

[170] The ice maker 200 may further include a sensor that senses the rotation of the

cam.

[171] For example, the cam is provided with a magnet, and the sensor may be a hall

sensor detecting magnetism of the magnet during the rotation of the cam. The

sensor may output first and second signals that are different outputs according to

whether the sensor senses a magnet. One of the first signal and the second signal

may be a high signal, and the other may be a low signal.

[172] The controller 800 to be described later may determine a position of the second

tray 380 based on the type and pattern of the signal outputted from the sensor. That

is, since the second tray 380 and the cam rotate by the motor, the position of the 92121828.3 second tray 380 may be indirectly determined based on a detection signal of the magnet provided in the cam.

[173] For example, a water supply position and an ice making position, which will be

described later, may be distinguished and determined based on the signals outputted

from the sensor.

[174] The ice maker 200 may further include a second pusher 540. The second

pusher 540 may be installed on the bracket 220.

[175] The second pusher 540 may include at least one extension part 544. For

example, the second pusher 540 may include the extension part 544 provided with the

same number as the number of ice making cells 320a, but is not limited thereto. The

extension part 544 may push out the ice disposed in the ice making cell 320a. For

example, the extension part 544 may pass through the second tray case 400 to

contact the second tray 380 defining the ice making cell 320a and then press the

contacting second tray 380. Therefore, the second tray case 400 may be provided

with a hole 422 through which a portion of the second pusher 540 passes.

[176] The first tray case 300 may be rotatably coupled to the second tray case 400

with respect to the shaft 440 and then be disposed to change in angle about the shaft

440.

[177] In this embodiment, the second tray 380 may be made of a non-metal material.

For example, when the second tray 380 is pressed by the second pusher 540, the

second tray 380 may be made of a flexible or soft material which is deformable.

Although not limited, the second tray 380 may be made of, for example, a silicone

material.

92121828.3

[178] Therefore, while the second tray 380 is deformed while the second tray 380 is

pressed by the second pusher 540, pressing force of the second pusher 540 may be

transmitted to ice. The ice and the second tray 380 may be separated from each

other by the pressing force of the second pusher 540.

[179] When the second tray 380 is made of the non-metal material and the flexible or

soft material, the coupling force or attaching force between the ice and the second tray

380 may be reduced, and thus, the ice may be easily separated from the second tray

380.

[180] Also, if the second tray 380 is made of the non-metal material and the flexible

or soft material, after the shape of the second tray 380 is deformed by the second

pusher 540, when the pressing force of the second pusher 540 is removed, the

second tray 380 may be easily restored to its original shape.

[181] On the other hand, the first tray 320 may be made of a metal material. In this

case, since the coupling force or the separating force between the first tray 320 and

the ice is strong, the ice maker 200 according to this embodiment may include at least

one of the ice separation heater 290 or the first pusher 260.

[182] For another example, the first tray 320 may be made of a non-metal material.

When the first tray 320 is made of the non-metal material, the ice maker 200 may

include only one of the ice separation heater 290 and the first pusher 260.

[183] Alternatively, the ice maker 200 may not include the ice separation heater 290

and the first pusher 260.

[184] Although not limited, the second tray 320 may be made of, for example, a

silicone material.

92121828.3

[185] That is, the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may be made of the same

material. When the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 are made of the same

material, the first tray 320 and the second tray 380 may have different hardness to

maintain sealing performance at the contact portion between the first tray 320 and the

second tray 380.

[186] In this embodiment, since the second tray 380 is pressed by the second pusher

540 to be deformed, the second tray 380 may have hardness less than that of the first

tray 320 to facilitate the deformation of the second tray 380.

[187] On the other hand, referring to FIG. 5, the ice maker 200 may further include a

second temperature sensor (or a tray temperature sensor) 700 that senses the

temperature of the ice making cell 320a. The second temperature sensor 700 may

sense a temperature of water or ice of the ice making cell 320a.

[188] The second temperature sensor 700 may be disposed adjacent to the first tray

320 to sense the temperature of the first tray 320, thereby indirectly determining the

water temperature or the ice temperature of the ice making cell 320a. In this

embodiment, the water temperature or the ice temperature of the ice making cell 320a

may be referred to as an internal temperature of the ice making cell 320a.

[189] The second temperature sensor 700 may be installed in the first tray case 300.

In this case, the second temperature sensor 700 may contact the first tray 320, or may

be spaced apart from the first tray 320 by a predetermined distance. Alternatively,

the second temperature sensor 700 may be installed on the first tray 320 to contact

the first tray 320.

92121828.3

[190] Of course, when the second temperature sensor 700 is disposed to pass

through the first tray 320, the temperature of water or ice of the ice making cell 320a

may be directly sensed.

[191] On the other hand, a portion of the ice separation heater 290 may be disposed

higher than the second temperature sensor 700 and may be spaced apart from the

second temperature sensor 700. An electric wire 701 coupled to the second

temperature sensor 700 may be guided above the first tray case 300.

[192] Referring to FIG. 6, the ice maker 200 according to this embodiment may be

designed such that the position of the second tray 380 is different in the water supply

position and the ice making position.

[193] For example, the second tray 380 may include a second cell wall 381 defining

the second cell 320c of the ice making cell 320a, and a circumferential wall 382

extending along the outer edge of the second cell wall 381

[194] The second cell wall 381 may include an upper surface 381a. In this

specification, the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may be referred to as

the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380. The upper surface 381a of the

second cell wall 381 may be disposed lower than the upper end of the circumferential

wall 381.

[195] The first tray 320 may include a first cell wall 321a defining the first cell 320b of

the ice making cell 320a. The first cell wall 321a may include a straight portion 321b

and a curved portion 321c. The curved portion 321c may be formed in an arc shape

having a center of the shaft 440 as a radius of curvature. Accordingly, the

circumferential wall 381 may also include a straight portion and a curved portion

corresponding to the straight portion 321b and the curved portion 321c. 92121828.3

[196] The first cell wall 321a may include a lower surface 321d. In this specification,

the lower surface 321b of the first cell wall 321a may be referred to as the lower

surface 321b of the first tray 320.

[197] The lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a may contact the upper surface

381a of the second cell wall 381a.

[198] For example, at least a portion of the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall

321a and the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may be spaced apart at

the water supply position as shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, for example, it is shown that

the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a and the entire upper surface 381a of

the second cell wall 381 are spaced apart from each other.

[199] Accordingly, the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may be inclined

to form a predetermined angle with the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a.

[200] Although not limited, the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a at the

water supply position may be maintained substantially horizontally, and the upper

surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may be disposed to be inclined with respect

to the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a under the first cell wall 321a.

[201] In the state shown in FIG. 6, the circumferential wall 382 may surround the first

cell wall 321a. In addition, the upper end of the circumferential wall 382 may be

disposed higher than the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a.

[202] On the other hand, the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may

contact at least a portion of the lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a at the ice

making position (see FIG. 12).

[203] The angle formed by the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 and the

lower surface 321d of the first tray 320 at the ice making position is smaller than the 92121828.3 angle formed by the upper surface 382a of the second tray 380 and the lower surface

321d of the first tray 320 at the water supply position.

[204] The upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 may contact the entire

lower surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a at the ice making position. At the ice

making position, the upper surface 381a of the second cell wall 381 and the lower

surface 321d of the first cell wall 321a may be disposed to be substantially horizontal.

[205] In this embodiment, the water supply position of the second tray 380 and the

ice making position are different from each other so that, when the ice maker 200

includes a plurality of ice making cells 320a, a water passage for communication

between the ice making cells 320a is not formed in the first tray 320 and/or the second

tray 380, and water is uniformly distributed to the plurality of ice making cells 320a.

[206] If the ice maker 200 includes the plurality of ice making cells 320a, when the

water passage is formed in the first tray 320 and/or the second tray 380, the water

supplied to the ice maker 200 is distributed to the plurality of ice making cells 320a

along the water passage.

[207] However, in a state in which the water is distributed to the plurality of ice

making cells 320a, water also exists in the water passage, and when ice is made in

this state, the ice made in the ice making cell 320a is connected by the ice made in the

water passage.

[208] In this case, there is a possibility that the ice will stick together even after the

ice separation is completed. Even if pieces of ice are separated from each other,

some pieces of ice will contain ice made in the water passage, and thus there is a

problem that the shape of the ice is different from that of the ice making cell.

92121828.3

[209] However, as in this embodiment, when the second tray 380 is spaced apart

from the first tray 320 at the water supply position, water falling into the second tray

380 may be uniformly distributed to the plurality of second cells 320c of the second

tray 380.

[210] For example, the first tray 320 may include a communication hole 321e. When

the first tray 320 includes one first cell 320b, the first tray 320 may include one

communication hole 321e.

[211] When the first tray 320 includes a plurality of first cells 320b, the first tray 320

may include a plurality of communication holes 321e. The water supply part 240 may

supply water to one communication hole 321e among the plurality of communication

holes 321e. In this case, the water supplied through the one communication hole

321e falls into the second tray 380 after passing through the first tray 320.

[212] During the water supply process, water may fall into any one second cell 320c

among the plurality of second cells 320c of the second tray 380. The water supplied

to one second cell 320c overflows from one second cell 320c.

[213] In this embodiment, since the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 is

spaced apart from the lower surface 321d of the first tray 320, the water that overflows

from one of the second cells 320c moves to another adjacent second cell 320c along

the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380. Accordingly, the plurality of second

cells 320c of the second tray 380 may be filled with water.

[214] In addition, in a state in which the supply of water is completed, a portion of the

supplied water is filled in the second cell 320c, and another portion of the supplied

water may be filled in a space between the first tray 320 and the second tray 380.

92121828.3

[215] Water at the water supply position when water supply is completed may be

positioned only in the space between the first tray 320 and the second tray 380, the

space between the first tray 320 and the second tray 380, and the first tray 320

according to the volume of the ice making cell 320a (see FIG. 11).

[216] When the second tray 380 moves from the water supply position to the ice

making position, the water in the space between the first tray 320 and the second tray

380 may be uniformly distributed to the plurality of first cells 320b.

[217] On the other hand, when the water passage is defined in the first tray 320

and/or the second tray 380, ice made in the ice making cell 320a is also made in the

water passage portion.

[218] In this case, when the controller of the refrigerator controls one or more of the

cooling power of the cooling air supply part 900 and the heating amount of the

transparent ice heater 430 to vary according to the mass per unit height of water in the

ice making cell 320a in order to make transparent ice, one or more of the cooling

power of the cold air supply part 900 and the heating amount of the transparent ice

heater 430 are controlled to rapidly vary several times or more in the portion where the

water passage is defined.

[219] This is because the mass per unit height of water is rapidly increased several

times or more in the portion where the water passage is defined. In this case, since

the reliability problem of the parts may occur and expensive parts with large widths of

maximum and minimum output may be used, it can also be disadvantageous in terms

of power consumption and cost of parts. As a result, the present disclosure may

require a technology related to the above-described ice making position so as to make

transparent ice. 92121828.3

[220] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a control of a refrigerator according to an

embodiment.

[221] Referring to FIG. 7, the refrigerator according to this embodiment may further

include a cold air supply part 900 supplying cold air to the freezing compartment 32 (or

the ice making cell). The cold air supply part 900 may supply cold air to the freezing

compartment 32 using a refrigerant cycle.

[222] For example, the cold air supply part 900 may include a compressor

compressing the refrigerant. A temperature of the cold air supplied to the freezing

compartment 32 may vary according to the output (or frequency) of the compressor.

Alternatively, the cold air supply part 900 may include a fan blowing air to an

evaporator. An amount of cold air supplied to the freezing compartment 32 may vary

according to the output (or rotation rate) of the fan. Alternatively, the cold air supply

part 900 may include a refrigerant valve controlling an amount of refrigerant flowing

through the refrigerant cycle. An amount of refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant

cycle may vary by adjusting an opening degree by the refrigerant valve, and thus, the

temperature of the cold air supplied to the freezing compartment 32 may vary.

[223] Therefore, in this embodiment, the cold air supply part 900 may include one or

more of the compressor, the fan, and the refrigerant valve.

[224] The refrigerator according to this embodiment may further include a controller

800 that controls the cold air supply part 900.

[225] The refrigerator may further include a water supply valve 242 controlling an

amount of water supplied through the water supply part 240. The refrigerator may

further include a door opening/closing detector 930 detecting a door opening/closing of

92121828.3 a storage chamber (for example, the freezing compartment 32) in which the ice maker

200 is installed.

[226] The controller 800 may control a portion or all of the ice separation heater 290,

the transparent ice heater 430, the driver 480, the cold air supply part 900, and the

water supply valve 242.

[227] When the door opening/closing detector 930 detects the opening/closing of the

door (a state in which the door is opened or closed), the controller 800 may determine

whether to vary the cooling power of the cooling air supply part 900 based on the

temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 33.

[228] When the door opening/closing detector 930 detects the opening/closing of the

door, the controller 800 may determine whether to vary the output of the transparent

ice heater 430 based on the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor

700.

[229] On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the ice maker 200 includes both

the ice separation heater 290 and the transparent ice heater 430, an output of the ice

separation heater 290 and an output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be different

from each other. When the outputs of the ice separation heater 290 and the

transparent ice heater 430 are different from each other, an output terminal of the ice

separation heater 290 and an output terminal of the transparent ice heater 430 may be

provided in different shapes, incorrect connection of the two output terminals may be

prevented.

[230] Although not limited, the output of the ice separation heater 290 may be set

larger than that of the transparent ice heater 430. Accordingly, ice may be quickly

separated from the first tray 320 by the ice separation heater 290. 92121828.3

[231] In this embodiment, when the ice separation heater 290 is not provided, the

transparent ice heater 430 may be disposed at a position adjacent to the second tray

380 described above or be disposed at a position adjacent to the first tray 320.

[232] The refrigerator may further include a first temperature sensor 33 (or an internal

temperature sensor) that senses a temperature of the freezing compartment 32.

[233] The controller 800 may control the cold air supply part 900 based on the

temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 33.

[234] The controller 800 may determine whether ice making is completed based on

the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700.

[235] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a process of making ice in the ice maker

according to an embodiment.

[236] FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a height reference depending on a relative

position of the transparent heater with respect to the ice making cell, and FIG. 10 is a

view for explaining an output of the transparent heater per unit height of water within

the ice making cell.

[237] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state in which supply of water is completed at a

water supply position, FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a state in which ice is made at an

ice making position, FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a state in which a second tray is

separated from a first tray during an ice separation process, and FIG. 14 is a view

illustrating a state in which a second tray is moved to an ice separation position during

an ice separation process.

[238] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 14, to make ice in the ice maker 200, the controller 800

moves the second tray 380 to a water supply position (S1).

92121828.3

[239] In this specification, a direction in which the second tray 380 moves from the ice

making position of FIG. 12 to the ice separation position of FIG. 14 may be referred to

as forward movement (or forward rotation). On the other hand, the direction from the

ice separation position of FIG. 14 to the water supply position of FIG. 11 may be

referred to as reverse movement (or reverse rotation).

[240] The movement to the water supply position of the second tray 380 is detected

by a sensor, and when it is detected that the second tray 380 moves to the water

supply position, the controller 800 stops the driver 480.

[241] The water supply starts when the second tray 380 moves to the water supply

position (S2). For the water supply, the controller 800 may turn on the water supply

valve 242, and when it is determined that a predetermined amount of water is supplied,

the controller 800 may turn off the water supply valve 242. For example, in the

process of supplying water, when a pulse is outputted from a flow rate sensor (not

shown) and the outputted pulse reaches a reference pulse, it may be determined that

a predetermined amount of water is supplied.

[242] After the water supply is completed, the controller 800 controls the driver 480 to

allow the second tray 380 to move to the ice making position (S3). For example, the

controller 800 may control the driver 480 to allow the second tray 380 to move from

the water supply position in the reverse direction.

[243] When the second tray 380 move in the reverse direction, the upper surface

381a of the second tray 380 comes close to the lower surface 321e of the first tray 320.

Then, water between the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 and the lower

surface 321e of the first tray 320 is divided into each of the plurality of second cells

320c and then is distributed. When the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 92121828.3 and the lower surface 321e of the first tray 320 are completely in close contact, the first cell 320b is filled with water.

[244] The movement to the ice making position of the second tray 380 is detected by

a sensor, and when it is detected that the second tray 380 moves to the ice making

position, the controller 800 stops the driver 480.

[245] In the state in which the second tray 380 moves to the ice making position, ice

making is started (S4). For example, the ice making may be started when the second

tray 380 reaches the ice making position. Alternatively, when the second tray 380

reaches the ice making position, and the water supply time elapses, the ice making

may be started.

[246] When ice making is started, the controller 800 may control the cold air supply

part 900 to supply cold air to the ice making cell 320a.

[247] After the ice making is started, the controller 800 may control the transparent

ice heater 430 to be turned on in at least partial sections of the cold air supply part 900

supplying the cold air to the ice making cell 320a.

[248] When the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on, since the heat of the

transparent ice heater 430 is transferred to the ice making cell 320a, the ice making

rate of the ice making cell 320a may be delayed.

[249] According to this embodiment, the ice making rate may be delayed so that the

bubbles in the water inside the ice making cell 320a move from the portion at which

ice is made toward the liquid water by the heat of the transparent ice heater 430 to

make the transparent ice in the ice maker 200.

[250] In the ice making process, the controller 800 may determine whether the turn

on condition of the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied (S5). 92121828.3

[251] In this embodiment, the transparent ice heater 430 is not turned on immediately

after the ice making is started, and the transparent ice heater 430 may be turned on

only when the turn-on condition of the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied (S6).

[252] Generally, the water supplied to the ice making cell 320a may be water having

normal temperature or water having a temperature lower than the normal temperature.

The temperature of the water supplied is higher than a freezing point of water. Thus,

after the water supply, the temperature of the water is lowered by the cold air, and

when the temperature of the water reaches the freezing point of the water, the water is

changed into ice.

[253] In this embodiment, the transparent ice heater 430 may not be turned on until

the water is phase-changed into ice.

[254] If the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on before the temperature of the

water supplied to the ice making cell 320a reaches the freezing point, the speed at

which the temperature of the water reaches the freezing point by the heat of the

transparent ice heater 430 is slow. As a result, the starting of the ice making may be

delayed.

[255] The transparency of the ice may vary depending on the presence of the air

bubbles in the portion at which ice is made after the ice making is started. If heat is

supplied to the ice making cell 320a before the ice is made, the transparent ice heater

430 may operate regardless of the transparency of the ice.

[256] Thus, according to this embodiment, after the turn-on condition of the

transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied, when the transparent ice heater 430 is turned

on, power consumption due to the unnecessary operation of the transparent ice heater

430 may be prevented. 92121828.3

[257] Alternatively, even if the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on immediately

after the start of ice making, since the transparency is not affected, it is also possible

to turn on the transparent ice heater 430 after the start of the ice making.

[258] In this embodiment, the controller 800 may determine that the turn-on condition

of the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied when a predetermined time elapses from

the set specific time point. The specific time point may be set to at least one of the

time points before the transparent ice heater 430 is turned on. For example, the

specific time point may be set to a time point at which the cold air supply part 900

starts to supply cooling power for the ice making, a time point at which the second tray

380 reaches the ice making position, a time point at which the water supply is

completed, and the like.

[259] Alternatively, the controller 800 determines that the turn-on condition of the

transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied when a temperature sensed by the second

temperature sensor 700 reaches a turn-on reference temperature.

[260] For example, the turn-on reference temperature may be a temperature for

determining that water starts to freeze at the uppermost side (communication hole

side) of the ice making cell 320a. When a portion of the water is frozen in the ice

making cell 320a, the temperature of the ice in the ice making cell 320a is below zero.

[261] The temperature of the first tray 320 may be higher than the temperature of the

ice in the ice making cell 320a.

[262] Alternatively, although water is present in the ice making cell 320a, after the ice

starts to be made in the ice making cell 320a, the temperature sensed by the second

temperature sensor 700 may be below zero.

92121828.3

[263] Thus, to determine that making of ice is started in the ice making cell 320a on

the basis of the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 700, the turn

on reference temperature may be set to the below-zero temperature.

[264] That is, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700

reaches the turn-on reference temperature, since the turn-on reference temperature is

below zero, the ice temperature of the ice making cell 320a is below zero, i.e., lower

than the turn-on reference temperature. Therefore, it may be indirectly determined

that ice is made in the ice making cell 320a.

[265] As described above, when the transparent ice heater 430 is not used, the heat

of the transparent ice heater 430 is transferred into the ice making cell 320a.

[266] In this embodiment, when the second tray 380 is disposed below the first tray

320, the transparent ice heater 430 is disposed to supply the heat to the second tray

380, the ice may be made from an upper side of the ice making cell 320a.

[267] In this embodiment, since ice is made from the upper side in the ice making cell

320a, the bubbles move downward from the portion at which the ice is made in the ice

making cell 320a toward the liquid water.

[268] Since density of water is greater than that of ice, water or bubbles may convex

in the ice making cell 320a, and the bubbles may move to the transparent ice heater

430.

[269] In this embodiment, the mass (or volume) per unit height of water in the ice

making cell 320a may be the same or different according to the shape of the ice

making cell 320a.

[270] For example, when the ice making cell 320a is a rectangular parallelepiped, the

mass (or volume) per unit height of water in the ice making cell 320a is the same. On 92121828.3 the other hand, when the ice making cell 320a has a shape such as a sphere, an inverted triangle, a crescent moon, etc., the mass (or volume) per unit height of water is different.

[271] When the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 is constant, if the

heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is the same, since the mass per unit

height of water in the ice making cell 320a is different, an ice making rate per unit

height may be different.

[272] For example, if the mass per unit height of water is small, the ice making rate is

high, whereas if the mass per unit height of water is high, the ice making rate is slow.

[273] As a result, the ice making rate per unit height of water is not constant, and thus,

the transparency of the ice may vary according to the unit height. In particular, when

ice is made at a high rate, the bubbles may not move from the ice to the water, and

the ice may contain the bubbles to lower the transparency.

[274] That is, the more the variation in ice making rate per unit height of water

decreases, the more the variation in transparency per unit height of made ice may

decrease.

[275] Therefore, in this embodiment, the control part 800 may control the cooling

power and/or the heating amount so that the cooling power of the cold air supply part

900 and/or the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is variable according

to the mass per unit height of the water of the ice making cell 320a.

[276] In this specification, the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 may

include one or more of a variable output of the compressor, a variable output of the fan,

and a variable opening degree of the refrigerant valve.

92121828.3

[277] Also, in this specification, the variation in the heating amount of the transparent

ice heater 430 may represent varying the output of the transparent ice heater 430 or

varying the duty of the transparent ice heater 430.

[278] In this case, the duty of the transparent ice heater 430 represents a ratio of the

turn-on time and a sum of the turn-on time and the turn-off time of the transparent ice

heater 430 in one cycle, or a ratio of the turn-ff time and a sum of the turn-on time and

the turn-off time of the transparent ice heater 430 in one cycle.

[279] In this specification, a reference of the unit height of water in the ice making cell

320a may vary according to a relative position of the ice making cell 320a and the

transparent ice heater 430.

[280] For example, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the transparent ice heater 430 at the

bottom surface of the ice making cell 320a may be disposed to have the same height.

[281] In this case, a line connecting the transparent ice heater 430 is a horizontal line,

and a line extending in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal line serves as a

reference for the unit height of the water of the ice making cell 320a.

[282] In the case of FIG. 9(a), ice is made from the uppermost side of the ice making

cell 320a and then is grown. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the

transparent ice heater 430 at the bottom surface of the ice making cell 320a may be

disposed to have different heights.

[283] In this case, since heat is supplied to the ice making cell 320a at different

heights of the ice making cell 320a, ice is made with a pattern different from that of

FIG. 9(a).

92121828.3

[284] For example, in FIG. 9(b), ice may be made at a position spaced apart from the

uppermost side to the left side of the ice making cell 320a, and the ice may be grown

to a right lower side at which the transparent ice heater 430 is disposed.

[285] Accordingly, in FIG. 9(b), a line (reference line) perpendicular to the line

connecting two points of the transparent ice heater 430 serves as a reference for the

unit height of water of the ice making cell 320a. The reference line of FIG. 9(b) is

inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical line.

[286] FIG. 10 illustrates a unit height division of water and an output amount of

transparent ice heater per unit height when the transparent ice heater is disposed as

shown in FIG. 9(a).

[287] Hereinafter, an example of controlling an output of the transparent ice heater so

that the ice making rate is constant for each unit height of water will be described.

[288] Referring to FIG. 10, when the ice making cell 320a is formed, for example, in a

spherical shape, the mass per unit height of water in the ice making cell 320a

increases from the upper side to the lower side to reach the maximum and then

decreases again.

[289] For example, the water (or the ice making cell itself) in the spherical ice making

cell 320a having a diameter of about 50 mm is divided into nine sections (section A to

section I) by 6 mm height (unit height). Here, it is noted that there is no limitation on

the size of the unit height and the number of divided sections.

[290] When the water in the ice making cell 320a is divided into unit heights, the

height of each section to be divided is equal to the section A to the section H, and the

section I is lower than the remaining sections. Alternatively, the unit heights of all

92121828.3 divided sections may be the same depending on the diameter of the ice making cell

320a and the number of divided sections.

[291] Among the many sections, the section E is a section in which the mass of unit

height of water is maximum. For example, in the section in which the mass per unit

height of water is maximum, when the ice making cell 320a has spherical shape, a

diameter of the ice making cell 320a, a horizontal cross-sectional area of the ice

making cell 320a, or a circumference of the ice may be maximum.

[292] As described above, when assuming that the cooling power of the cold air

supply part 900 is constant, and the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is

constant, the ice making rate in section E is the lowest, the ice making rate in the

sections A and I is the fastest.

[293] In this case, since the ice making rate varies for the height, the transparency of

the ice may vary for the height. In a specific section, the ice making rate may be too

fast to contain bubbles, thereby lowering the transparency.

[294] Therefore, in this embodiment, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may

be controlled so that the ice making rate for each unit height is the same or similar

while the bubbles move from the portion at which ice is made to the water in the ice

making process.

[295] Specifically, since the mass of the section E is the largest, the output W5 of the

transparent ice heater 430 in the section E may be set to a minimum value. Since

the volume of the section D is less than that of the section E, the volume of the ice

may be reduced as the volume decreases, and thus it is necessary to delay the ice

making rate. Thus, an output W6 of the transparent ice heater 430 in the section D

92121828.3 may be set to a value greater than an output W5 of the transparent ice heater 430 in the section E.

[296] Since the volume in the section C is less than that in the section D by the same

reason, an output W3 of the transparent ice heater 430 in the section C may be set to

a value greater than the output W4 of the transparent ice heater 430 in the section D.

Since the volume in the section B is less than that in the section C, an output W2 of

the transparent ice heater 430 in the section B may be set to a value greater than the

output W3 of the transparent ice heater 430 in the section C. Since the volume in the

section A is less than that in the section B, an output W1 of the transparent ice heater

430 in the section A may be set to a value greater than the output W2 of the

transparent ice heater 430 in the section B.

[297] For the same reason, since the mass per unit height decreases toward the

lower side in the section E, the output of the transparent ice heater 430 may increase

as the lower side in the section E (see W6, W7, W8, and W9).

[298] Thus, according to an output variation pattern of the transparent ice heater 430,

the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is gradually reduced from the first section

to the intermediate section after the transparent ice heater 430 is initially turned on.

[299] The output of the transparent ice heater 430 may be minimum in the

intermediate section in which the mass of unit height of water is minimum. The

output of the transparent ice heater 430 may again increase step by step from the next

section of the intermediate section.

[300] The transparency of the ice may be uniform for each unit height, and the

bubbles may be collected in the lowermost section by the output control of the

transparent ice heater 430. Thus, when viewed on the ice as a whole, the bubbles 92121828.3 may be collected in the localized portion, and the remaining portion may become totally transparent.

[301] As described above, even if the ice making cell 320a does not have the

spherical shape, the transparent ice may be made when the output of the transparent

ice heater 430 varies according to the mass for each unit height of water in the ice

making cell 320a.

[302] The heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 when the mass for each

unit height of water is large may be less than that of the transparent ice heater 430

when the mass for each unit height of water is small.

[303] For example, while maintaining the same cooling power of the cold air supply

part 900, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may vary so as to be

inversely proportional to the mass per unit height of water.

[304] Also, it is possible to make the transparent ice by varying the cooling power of

the cold air supply part 900 according to the mass per unit height of water.

[305] For example, when the mass per unit height of water is large, the cold force of

the cold air supply part 900 may increase, and when the mass per unit height is small,

the cold force of the cold air supply part 900 may decrease.

[306] For example, while maintaining a constant heating amount of the transparent

ice heater 430, the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 may vary to be

proportional to the mass per unit height of water.

[307] Referring to the variable cooling power pattern of the cold air supply part 900 in

the case of making the spherical ice, the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900

from the initial section to the intermediate section during the ice making process may

gradually increase. 92121828.3

[308] The cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 may be maximum in the

intermediate section in which the mass for each unit height of water is minimum. The

cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 may be gradually reduced again from the

next section of the intermediate section.

[309] Alternatively, the transparent ice may be made by varying the cooling power of

the cold air supply part 900 and the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430

according to the mass for each unit height of water.

[310] For example, the heating power of the transparent ice heater 430 may vary so

that the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 is proportional to the mass per

unit height of water and inversely proportional to the mass for each unit height of water.

[311] According to this embodiment, when one or more of the cooling power of the

cold air supply part 900 and the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 are

controlled according to the mass per unit height of water, the ice making rate per unit

height of water may be substantially the same or may be maintained within a

predetermined range.

[312] The controller 800 may determine whether the ice making is completed based

on the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 (S8). When it is

determined that the ice making is completed, the controller 800 may turn off the

transparent ice heater 430 (S9).

[313] For example, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor

700 reaches a first reference temperature, the controller 800 may determine that the

ice making is completed to turn off the transparent ice heater 430.

[314] In this case, a distance between the second temperature sensor 700 and each

ice making cell 320a is different. Thus, in order to determine that the ice making is 92121828.3 completed in all the ice making cells 320a, the controller 800 may perform the ice separation after a certain amount of time, at which it is determined that ice making is completed, has passed or when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches a second reference temperature lower than the first reference temperature.

[315] When the ice making is completed, the controller 800 operates one or more of

the ice separation heater 290 and the transparent ice heater 430 (S10).

[316] When at least one of the ice separation heater 290 or the transparent ice heater

430 is turned on, heat of the heater is transferred to at least one of the first tray 320 or

the second tray 380 so that the ice may be separated from the surfaces (inner

surfaces) of one or more of the first tray 320 and the second tray 380.

[317] Also, the heat of the heaters 290 and 430 is transferred to the contact surface

of the first tray 320 and the second tray 380, and thus, the lower surface 321d of the

first tray 320 and the upper surface 381a of the second tray 380 may be in a state

capable of being separated from each other.

[318] When at least one of the ice separation heater 290 and the transparent ice

heater 430 operate for a predetermined time, or when the temperature sensed by the

second temperature sensor 700 is equal to or higher than an off reference

temperature, the controller 800 is turned off the heaters 290 and 430, which are turned

on (S10). Although not limited, the turn-off reference temperature may be set to

below zero temperature.

[319] The controller 800 operates the driver 480 to allow the second tray 380 to move

in the forward direction (S11).

92121828.3

[320] As illustrated in FIG. 13, when the second tray 380 moves in the forward

direction, the second tray 380 is spaced apart from the first tray 320.

[321] The moving force of the second tray 380 is transmitted to the first pusher 260

by the pusher link 500. Then, the first pusher 260 descends along the guide slot 302,

and the extension part 264 passes through the communication hole 321e to press the

ice in the ice making cell 320a.

[322] In this embodiment, ice may be separated from the first tray 320 before the

extension part 264 presses the ice in the ice making process. That is, ice may be

separated from the surface of the first tray 320 by the heater that is turned on. In this

case, the ice may move together with the second tray 380 while the ice is supported

by the second tray 380.

[323] For another example, even when the heat of the heater is applied to the first

tray 320, the ice may not be separated from the surface of the first tray 320.

[324] Therefore, when the second tray 380 moves in the forward direction, there is

possibility that the ice is separated from the second tray 380 in a state in which the ice

contacts the first tray 320.

[325] In this state, in the process of moving the second tray 380, the extension part

264 passing through the communication hole 320e may press the ice contacting the

first tray 320, and thus, the ice may be separated from the tray 320.

[326] The ice separated from the first tray 320 may be supported by the second tray

380 again.

[327] When the ice moves together with the second tray 380 while the ice is

supported by the second tray 380, the ice may be separated from the tray 250 by its

own weight even if no external force is applied to the second tray 380. 92121828.3

[328] While the second tray 380 moves, even if the ice does not fall from the second

tray 380 by its own weight, when the second pusher 540 presses the second tray 380

as illustrated in FIG. 13, the ice may be separated from the second tray 380 to fall

downward.

[329] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 13, while the second tray 380 moves, the

second tray 380 may contact the extension part 544 of the second pusher 540.

When the second tray 380 continuously moves in the forward direction, the extension

part 544 may press the second tray 380 to deform the second tray 380. Thus, the

pressing force of the extension part 544 may be transferred to the ice so that the ice is

separated from the surface of the second tray 380. The ice separated from the

surface of the second tray 380 may drop downward and be stored in the ice bin 600.

[330] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the position at which the second tray

380 is pressed by the second pusher 540 and deformed may be referred to as an ice

separation position.

[331] Whether the ice bin 600 is full may be detected while the second tray 380

moves from the ice making position to the ice separation position.

[332] For example, the full ice detection lever 520 rotates together with the second

tray 380, and the rotation of the full ice detection lever 520 is interrupted by ice while

the full ice detection lever 520 rotates. In this case, it may be determined that the ice

bin 600 is in a full ice state. On the other hand, if the rotation of the full ice detection

lever 520 is not interfered with the ice while the full ice detection lever 520 rotates, it

may be determined that the ice bin 600 is not in the ice state.

[333] After the ice is separated from the second tray 380, the controller 800 controls

the driver 480 to allow the second tray 380 to move in the reverse direction (S11). 92121828.3

Then, the second tray 380 moves from the ice separation position to the water supply

position.

[334] When the second tray 380 moves to the water supply position of FIG. 6, the

controller 800 stops the driver 480 (Si).

[335] When the second tray 380 is spaced apart from the extension part 544 while

the second tray 380 moves in the reverse direction, the deformed second tray 380

may be restored to its original shape.

[336] In the reverse movement of the second tray 380, the moving force of the

second tray 380 is transmitted to the first pusher 260 by the pusher link 500, and thus,

the first pusher 260 ascends, and the extension part 264 is removed from the ice

making cell 320a.

[337] On the other hand, in this embodiment, cooling power of the cold air supply part

900 may be determined corresponding to the target temperature of the freezing

compartment 32. The cold air generated by the cold air supply part 900 may be

supplied to the freezing compartment 32.

[338] The water of the ice making cell 320a may be phase-changed into ice by heat

transfer between the cold water supplied to the freezing compartment 32 and the

water of the ice making cell 320a.

[339] In this embodiment, a heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 for

each unit height of water may be determined in consideration of predetermined cooling

power of the cold air supply part 900.

[340] The heating amount (or output) of the transparent ice heater 430 determined in

consideration of the predetermined cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 is

92121828.3 referred to as a reference heating amount (or reference output). The magnitude of the reference heating amount per unit height of water is different.

[341] However, when the amount of heat transfer between the cold of the freezing

compartment 32 and the water in the ice making cell 320a is variable, if the heating

amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is not adjusted to reflect this, the

transparency of ice for each unit height varies.

[342] In this embodiment, the case in which the heat transfer amount between the

cold and the water increase may be a case in which the cooling power of the cold air

supply part 900 increases or a case in which the air having a temperature lower than

the temperature of the cold air in the freezing compartment 32 is supplied to the

freezing compartment 32.

[343] On the other hand, for example, the case in which the heat transfer amount of

cold air and water decreases may be a case in which the cooling power of the cold air

supply part 900 decreases, a case in which the door is opened and air having a

temperature higher than the temperature of the cold air in the freezing compartment

32 is supplied to the freezing compartment 32, a case in which food having a

32 is added to the freezing compartment 32, or a case in which a defrosting heater

(not shown) defrosting an evaporator is turned on.

[344] For example, the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 may increase

when a target temperature of the freezing compartment 32 is lowered, when an

operation mode of the freezing compartment 32 is changed from a normal mode to a

rapid cooling mode, when an output of at least one of the compressor or the fan

increases, or when an opening degree increases. 92121828.3

[345] On the other hand, the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 may

decrease when the target temperature of the freezing compartment 32 increases,

when the operation mode of the freezing compartment 32 is changed from the rapid

cooling mode to the normal mode, when the output of at least one of the compressor

or the fan decreases, or when the opening degree of the refrigerant valve decreases.

[346] When the heat transfer amount of the cold air and the water increases, the

temperature of the cold air around the ice maker 200 is lowered to increase in ice

making rate.

[347] On the other hand, if the heat transfer amount of the cold air and the water

decreases, the temperature of the cold air around the ice maker 200 increases, the ice

making rate decreases, and the ice making time increases.

[348] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the amount of heat transfer of cold and

water increases so that the ice making rate is maintained within a predetermined

range lower than the ice making rate when the ice making is performed with the

transparent ice heater 430 that is turned off, the heating amount of transparent ice

heater 430 may be controlled to increase.

[349] On the other hand, when the amount of heat transfer between the cold and the

water decreases, the heating amount of transparent ice heater 430 may be controlled

to decrease.

[350] In this embodiment, when the ice making rate is maintained within the

predetermined range, the ice making rate is less than the rate at which the bubbles

move in the portion at which the ice is made, and no bubbles exist in the portion at

which the ice is made.

92121828.3

[351] Hereinafter, a method for controlling a refrigerator for making transparent ice

when an opening/closing of a door is detected will be described as an example.

[352] FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a method for controlling a refrigerator when an

opening/closing of a door is detected during an ice making process, and FIG. 16 is a

view illustrating a change in output of a transparent ice heater for each unit height of

water and a change in temperature sensed by a second temperature sensor during an

ice making process.

[353] FIG. 16(a) is a view illustrating a case in which the opening/closing of the door

is not detected during the ice making process, and FIG. 16(b) is a view illustrating a

case in which the opening/closing of the door is detected during the ice making

process.

[354] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, ice making may be started (S4), and the

transparent ice heater 430 may be turned on during the ice making process to make

ice. In the ice making process, the cold air supply part 900 may operate with a

predetermined cooling power.

[355] For example, the compressor may be turned on, and the fan may operate with

a predetermined output.

[356] During the ice making process, the door opening/closing detector 930 may

detect the opening/closing of the door (for example, the door for opening/closing the

freezing compartment) (S41).

[357] When the door is opened, air outside the refrigerator may be introduced into the

freezing compartment 32, and thus, there is a possibility that the temperature sensed

by the first temperature sensor 33 will increase. In addition, when the door is opened,

air outside the refrigerator may be introduced into the freezing compartment 32, and 92121828.3 thus, there is a possibility that the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 will increase.

[358] In this embodiment, after the opening/closing of the door is detected, the

controller 800 may control the cold air supply part 900 or the transparent ice heater

430 based on the change in temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 33

and the second temperature sensor 700. Thus, even when the door is opened or

closed, the transparency of the transparent ice can be made uniform.

[359] For example, when the opening/closing of the door is detected, the controller

800 may determine whether it is necessary to increase the cooling power of the

cooling air supply part 900 (S42).

[360] For example, when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 33

is higher than or equal to the first set temperature after the opening/closing of the door

is detected, the controller 800 may determine that it is necessary to increase the

cooling power of the cooling air supply part 900.

[361] On the other hand, when the temperature sensed by the first temperature

sensor 33 is maintained below the first set temperature after the opening/closing of the

door is detected, the controller 800 may determine that it is unnecessary to increase

the cooling power of the cooling air supply part 900. In this case, the first set

temperature is a temperature higher than the temperature sensed by the first

temperature sensor 33 when the opening of the door is detected.

[362] That is, when the door opening time is long, or when the door is opened and

food having a temperature higher than the cold air of the freezing compartment 32 is

added to the freezing compartment 32, the temperature of the freezing compartment

92121828.3

32 increases rapidly. Thus, the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 may be

increased for rapid cooling of the freezing compartment 32 (S43).

[363] When the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 increases, the controller

800 may increase the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 in response to

the increase in the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 (S44).

[364] Alternatively, when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 33

after the opening/closing of the door is detected is higher by more than the first set

value than the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 33 before the

opening/closing of the door is detected, the controller 800 may determine that it is

necessary to increase the cooling power of the cooling air supply part 900.

[365] On the other hand, when the temperature sensed by the first temperature

sensor 33 after the opening/closing of the door is detected is not higher by more than

the first set value than the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 33

before the opening/closing of the door is detected, the controller 800 may determine

that it is unnecessary to increase the cooling power of the cooling air supply part 900.

[366] That is, when the opening time of the door is short, the change in the

temperature of the freezing compartment 32 may be small because the influence of

the temperature of the air outside the refrigerator is small. In this case, the current

cooling power may be maintained without increasing the cooling power of the cooling

air supply part 900 (S45).

[367] When it is determined to maintain the cooling power of the cold air supply part

900, the controller 800 may determine whether it is necessary to reduce the heating

amount of the transparent ice heater 430 (S46).

92121828.3

[368] For example, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor

700 is higher than or equal to the second set temperature, the controller 800 may

determine that it is necessary to reduce the heating amount of the transparent ice

heater 430, and may reduce the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430

(S47). That is, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be reduced

compared to the heating amount before the opening/closing of the door is detected.

[369] After the opening/closing of the door is detected, when the temperature of the

freezing compartment 32 increases and the temperature of the ice making cell 320a

increases accordingly, the ice making rate may decrease due to the increase in the

temperature of the ice making cell 320a. Thus, the heating amount of the transparent

ice heater 430 may be reduced.

[370] If the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is maintained when the

temperature of the ice making cell 320a increases, there is a disadvantage in that the

ice making rate decreases significantly.

[371] Therefore, when the temperature of the ice making cell 320a increases, the ice

making rate of ice may decrease due to the increase in the temperature of the freezing

compartment 32 even if the output of the transparent ice heater 430 is reduced. Thus,

power consumption may be reduced by the reduction in the output of the transparent

ice heater 430.

[372] On the other hand, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature

sensor 700 is maintained below the second set temperature after the opening/closing

of the door is detected, the controller 800 may determine that it is unnecessary to

reduce the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430. In this case, the

heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be maintained (S48). 92121828.3

[373] For another example, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature

sensor 700 is increased by more than the second set value than the temperature

sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 before the opening/closing of the door

is detected, the controller 800 may determine that it is necessary to reduce the heating

amount of the transparent ice heater 430, and may reduce the heating amount of the

transparent ice heater 430 (S47).

[374] On the other hand, when the temperature sensed by the second temperature

sensor 700 after the opening/closing of the door is detected is not increased by more

than the second set value than the temperature sensed by the second temperature

sensor 700 before the opening/closing of the door is detected, the controller 800 may

determine that it is unnecessary to increase the heating amount of the transparent ice

heater 430.

[375] As another example, when the heating amount of the transparent ice heater

430 is less than or equal to a reference value after the opening/closing of the door is

detected, the controller 800 may maintain the heating amount of the transparent ice

heater 430. On the other hand, when the heating amount of the transparent ice

heater 430 is greater than the reference value after the opening/closing of the door is

detected, the controller 800 may reduce the heating amount of the transparent ice

heater 430. In this case, the reference value may be, for example, the minimum

heating amount of the transparent ice heater.

[376] Referring to FIG. 16(a), when the opening/closing of the door is not detected

during the ice making process, the transparent ice heater 430 is controlled to vary the

reference output for each section. The temperature sensed by the second

temperature sensor 700 has a decreasing pattern. 92121828.3

[377] On the other hand, referring to FIG. 16(b), when the opening/closing of the door

is detected during the ice making process, the temperature sensed by the second

temperature sensor 700 may increase.

[378] As described above, after the opening/closing of the door is detected, if the

controller 800 determines that it is necessary to reduce the heating amount of the

transparent ice heater 430, the controller 800 may reduce the output of the transparent

ice heater 430. Although not limited, the controller 800 may turn off the transparent

ice heater 430.

[379] When the opening/closing of the door is detected in a specific section and the

heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 is reduced, the controller 800 may

determine whether the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700

reaches a reference temperature of a next section.

[380] For example, the variable control of the output of the transparent ice heater 430

is normally performed when a set time elapses in a state in which the heating amount

of the transparent ice heater 430 is reduced, or when the temperature sensed by the

second temperature sensor 700 reaches a section reference temperature

corresponding to the next section of the section in which the heating amount is

reduced (S49).

[381] For example, when the variable control of the heating amount of the transparent

ice heater 430 is performed during the ice making process, the timing at which the

heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 varies may be determined by time or

the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700.

[382] When the transparent ice heater 430 starts operating with the reference heating

amount corresponding to the current section and the set time elapses, the heating 92121828.3 amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be changed to the reference heating amount corresponding to the next section.

[383] In this case, the reference temperature for changing the section is

predetermined in the memory independently of the set time.

[384] That is, the reference temperature of each of the plurality of sections may be

predetermined and stored in the memory. In this embodiment, the reference

temperature is not used in the normal ice making process, but may be used only when

determining whether it is necessary to reduce the heating amount of the transparent

ice heater 430 after the opening/closing of the door is detected.

[385] As another example, when the transparent ice heater 430 starts operating with

the reference heating amount corresponding to the current section and the

temperature reaches the reference temperature for changing the section, the heating

amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be changed to the reference heating

amount corresponding to the next section.

[386] In this case, the reference temperature of each of the plurality of sections may

be predetermined and stored in the memory. Even in the normal ice making process,

the variable control of the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be

performed using the reference temperature.

[387] If the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 decreases after the

opening/closing of the door is detected when using the reference temperature for

changing the section as described above, the time it takes for the second temperature

sensor 700 to reach the reference temperature for the start of the next section

increases.

92121828.3

[388] Consequently, in the whole ice making process, the ice making time when the

opening/closing of the door is detected during the ice making process and the heating

amount of the transparent ice heater is reduced may be longer than the ice making

time when the opening/closing of the door is not detected during the ice making

process.

[389] Referring to FIG. 16(b), when the opening/closing of the door is detected in

section E and the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 reaches

the section reference temperature corresponding to section F, which is the next

section of section E, in a state where the heating amount of the transparent ice heater

430 is reduced, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be changed

to a heating amount corresponding to the section F. Sequentially, the heating

amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be controlled so that the transparent ice

heater 430 operates with the reference heating amount corresponding to sections G to

I.

[390] In summary, when it is necessary to reduce the heating amount of the

transparent ice heater 430, the controller 800 reduces the heating amount of the

transparent ice heater 430 only in the current section, and when the next section starts,

the controller 800 normally performs the variable control of the heating amount of the

transparent ice heater 43 in the next section (S49).

[391] According to this embodiment, after detecting the opening/closing of the door,

by controlling the heating amount of the transparent ice heater and the cold air supply

part based on the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor and the

temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor, the temperature of the

92121828.3 freezing compartment may be maintained at the target temperature, and the supply of excessive heat to the ice making cell may be prevented.

[392] In addition, if the temperature of the ice making cell rises, power consumption

transparent ice heater.

[393] Although the method for controlling the refrigerator of FIG. 16 has been

described as including operations S42 to S48, the method for controlling the

refrigerator may not include operations S42 to S45. That is, when the

opening/closing of the door is detected, operation S46 may be immediately performed.

[394] In addition, it should be noted that there is no restriction on the order of

operations S42 and S46 in FIG. 16. That is, it is also possible that operation S46 is

performed first, and then operation S42 is performed.

[395] In the present disclosure, the "operation" of the refrigerator may be defined as

including four operation processes: a process of determining whether the start

condition of the operation is satisfied, a process in which a predetermined operation is

performed when the start condition is satisfied, a process of determining whether the

end condition of the operation is satisfied, and a process in which the operation is

ended when the end condition is satisfied.

[396] In the present disclosure, the "operation" of the refrigerator may be classified

into a general operation for cooling the storage chamber of the refrigerator and a

special operation for starting when a special condition is satisfied. The controller of

the present disclosure may perform control so that, when the normal operation and the

special operation collide, the special operation is preferentially performed, and the

92121828.3 normal operation is stopped. When the execution of the special operation is completed, the controller may control the normal operation to resume.

[397] In the present disclosure, the collision of the operation may be defined as a

case in which the start condition of operation A and the start condition of operation B

are satisfied at the same time, a case in which the start condition of operation A is

satisfied and the start condition of operation B is satisfied while operation A is being

performed, and a case in which when the start condition of operation B is satisfied and

the start condition of operation A is satisfied while the operation is being performed.

[398] On the other hand, the general operation for generating transparent ice

(hereinafter referred to as "first transparent ice operation") may be defined as an

operation in which, after the water supply to the ice making cell 320a is completed, the

controller 800 controls at least one of the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900

or the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 to vary in order to perform a

typical ice making process.

[399] The first transparent ice operation may include a process in which the controller

800 controls the cold air supply part 900 to supply cold air to the ice making cell 320a.

[400] The first transparent ice operation may include a process in which the controller

800 may control the transparent ice heater 430 to be turned on in at least partial

section while the cold air supply part 900 supplies the cold air so that bubbles in the

water within the ice making cell 320a moves from a portion, at which the ice is made,

toward the water that is in a liquid state to make transparent ice.

[401] The controller 800 may control the turned-on transparent ice heater 430 to be

varied by a predetermined reference heating amount in each of a plurality of pre

divided sections. 92121828.3

[402] The plurality of pre-divided sections may include at least one of a case in which

which the sections are divided based on the elapsed time after the second tray 380

moves to the ice making position, and a case in which the sections are divided based

on the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 700 after the second

tray 380 moves to the ice making position.

[403] On the other hand, the special operation for making transparent ice (hereinafter

referred to as "second transparent ice operation") may include a transparent ice

operation for door load response, which performs the ice making process when the

start condition of the door load response operation is satisfied, and a transparent ice

operation for defrosting response to perform the ice making process when the start

condition of the defrosting operation is satisfied.

[404] When the controller 800 satisfies the start condition of the door load response

operation for the cold air supply part 900, the transparent ice operation for door load

response may include increasing the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900 in

order to remove the heat load inputted to the storage chamber by opening or closing

the door.

[405] When the controller 800 satisfies the start condition of the door load response

operation for the transparent ice heater 430, the transparent ice operation for door

load response may include a process of performing control to reduce the deterioration

of the ice making efficiency due to the lowering of the ice making rate caused by the

inputted heat load, and make the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 be

smaller than the heating amount during the first transparent ice operation in order to

92121828.3 maintain the ice making rate within a predetermined range and uniformly maintain the transparency of ice.

[406] The start condition of the door load response operation for the cold air supply

part 900 and the start condition of the door load response operation for the transparent

ice heater 430 may be different from each other.

[407] The end condition of the door load response operation for the cold air supply

part 900 and the end condition of the door load response operation for the transparent

ice heater 430 may be different from each other.

[408] The case in which the start condition of the door load response operation for

the cold air supply part 900 is satisfied may refer to a case in which, after the

opening/closing of the door is detected, it is determined whether it is necessary to vary

the cooling power of the cold air supply part 900, and it is determined that it is

necessary to vary the cooling power.

[409] The case in which the start condition of the door load response operation for

the cold air supply part 900 is satisfied may include at least one of a case in which the

first set time elapses from the detection of the opening of the door, a case in which the

the first temperature sensor 33 after the opening/closing of the door is detected.

[410] The case in which the start condition of the door load response operation for

the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied may refer to a case in which, after the

92121828.3 the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430, and it is determined that it is necessary to vary the heating amount.

[411] The case in which the start condition of the door load response operation for

the transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied may include at least one of a case in which

the second set time elapses from the detection of the opening of the door, a case in

which the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor becomes higher

than or equal to the second set temperature after the opening/closing of the door is

detected, a case in which the temperature is higher by more than a second set value

than the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor after the

opening/closing of the door is detected, a case in which the change in temperature

sensed by the second temperature sensor per unit time after the opening/closing of

the door is detected is greater than zero, a case in which the current heating amount

of the transparent ice heater 430 is greater than a reference value after the

opening/closing of the door is detected, and a case in which the start condition of the

door load response operation for the cold air supply parts 900 is satisfied.

[412] As another example, after the opening/closing of the door is detected, when the

amount of change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 per

unit time is greater than zero, the controller 800 may reduce the heating amount of the

transparent ice heater 430. On the other hand, when the change in temperature is

not greater than zero, the heating amount of the transparent ice heater 430 may be

maintained.

[413] After both the end condition of the door load response operation for the cold air

supply part 900 and the end condition of the door load response operation for the

92121828.3 transparent ice heater 430 are satisfied, the controller 800 may control the first transparent ice operation to resume.

[414] The case in which the end condition of the door load response operation for the

cold air supply part 900 is satisfied may include at least one of a case in which the A

set time elapses from the start of the door load response operation, a case in which

the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor becomes less than or equal to

the A set temperature after the door load response operation starts, and a case in

which the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor 33 is lower than or

equal to the A set value after the door load response operation starts.

[415] The case in which the end condition of the door load response operation for the

transparent ice heater 430 is satisfied may include at least one of a case in which the

B set time elapses from the start of the door load response operation, a case in which

the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 after the start of the

door load response operation is less than or equal to the B set temperature, a case in

which the temperature is lower than the temperature sensed by the second

temperature sensor 700 by less than the B set value, a case in which the change in

temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor 700 per unit time after the start

of the door load response operation is less than zero, and a case in which the door

load response operation for the cold air supply part 900 is end.

[416] The first set temperature and the A set temperature may be equal to or different

from each other. The second set temperature and the B set temperature may be

equal to or different from each other. The first set value and the A set value may also

be equal to or different from each other. The second set value and the B set value

may also be equal to or different from each other. 92121828.3

[417] The second set value may be set differently according to a plurality of sections.

At least one of the second set values may be greater than the first set value.

[418] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of

illustrative embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that

various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the

spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[419] Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing

from the scope of the present invention as herein described with reference to the

accompanying drawings.

92121828.3

Claims

[CLAIMS]

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a storage chamber configured to store food;

a first temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the storage

chamber;

a door configured to open or close the storage chamber;

a cold air supply part configured to supply cold air into the storage chamber;

a tray configured to define an ice making cell having a space in which water is

phase-changed into ice by the cold air;

a second temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water

or the ice within the ice making cell;

a heater configured to supply heat into the tray; and

a controller configured to control at least the heater,

wherein, the controller is configured to:

(a) determine whether it is necessary to increase cooling power of the cold air

supply part based on the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor after

detecting an opening/closing of the door during an ice making process, and upon such

determination, increase the cooling power of the cold air supply part, and

(b) determine whether it is necessary to decrease a heating amount of the

heater based on a change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor

after detecting an opening/closing of the door during an ice making process, and upon

such determination, decrease the heating amount of the heater, (c) decrease the heating amount of the heater when the temperature sensed by

92121828.3 the second temperature sensor is higher than or equal to a second set temperature after detecting the opening/closing of the door, or

(d) decrease the heating amount of the heater when the temperature sensed by

the second temperature sensor after detecting the opening/closing of the door is

increased by more than a second set value than the temperature sensed by the

second temperature sensor before detecting the opening/closing of the door, or

(e) decrease the heating amount of the heater when the current heating

amount of the heater is greater than a reference value.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein, when the controller is configured to:

(a) determine whether it is unnecessary to increase the cooling power of the

cold air supply part based on the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor

after detecting the opening/closing of the door during an ice making process, and

upon such determination maintains the cooling power of the cold air supply part, and

(b) determine whether it is unnecessary to decrease the heating power of the

heater based on the change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor,

and upon such determination maintains the heating amount of the heater.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to:

(a) increase the cooling power of the cold air supply part when the temperature

sensed by the first temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a first set

temperature after detecting the opening/closing of the door, and

92121828.3

(b) maintain the cooling power of the cold air supply part when the temperature

sensed by the first temperature sensor is maintained below the first set temperature.

4. The refrigerator of any one of the preceding claims 1 - 3, wherein the

controller is configured to:

(a) increase the cooling power of the cold air supply part when the temperature

sensed by the first temperature sensor after detecting the opening/closing of the door

is higher by more than a first set value than the temperature sensed by the first

temperature sensor after detecting the opening of the door , and

(b) maintain the cooling power of the cold air supply part when the temperature

sensed by the first temperature sensor is not higher by more than the first set value

than the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor after detecting the

opening of the door.

5. The refrigerator of any one of the preceding claims 1 - 4, wherein the

controller is configured to:

maintain the heating amount of the heater when the temperature sensed by

the second temperature sensor is maintained below the second set temperature.

6. The refrigerator of any one of the preceding claims 1 - 5, wherein the

controller is configured to:

maintain the heating amount of the heater when the temperature sensed by

the second temperature sensor is not increased by more than the second set value

92121828.3 than the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor before detecting the opening/closing of the door is detected.

7. The refrigerator of any one of the preceding claims 1 - 6, wherein the

controller is configured to:

maintain the heating amount of the heater when a current heating amount of

the heater is less than or equal to the reference value after detecting the

opening/closing of the door.

8. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the controller is

configured to turn off the heater when it is determined that it is necessary to decrease

the heating amount of the heater

9. The refrigerator of any one of the preceding claims 1 - 8, wherein the

controller is configured to increase the heating amount of the heater when the cooling

power of the cold air supply part increases.

10. The refrigerator of any one of the preceding claims 1 - 9, wherein the

controller is configured to control the heater such that the heating amount of the heater

varies according to a mass per unit height of water in the ice making cell.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein a plurality of sections are defined:

(a) based on the unit height of water, and

92121828.3

(b) a reference heating amount of the heater in each of the plurality of sections

is predetermined.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to

decrease the heating amount of the heater in a current section when it is determined

that it is necessary to decrease the heating amount of the heater after detecting the

opening/closing of the door is detected during the ice making process

13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to operate

the heater with the reference heating amount corresponding to a subsequent section

when the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor reaches a reference

temperature corresponding to a section immediately next to the current section.

14. The refrigerator of any one of the preceding claims 1 - 13, wherein the tray

comprises:

a first tray configured to define a portion of the ice making cell and a second

tray configured to define another portion of the ice making cell, and

the second tray contacts the first tray in the ice making process and is spaced

apart from the first tray in an ice separation process.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein one of the first tray and the second

tray is made of a non-metal material so as to decrease a heat transfer rate of the

heater.

92121828.3

16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the second tray is disposed below the

first tray,

the heater is disposed adjacent to the second tray such that water starts to

freeze from above in the ice making cell, and

at least the second tray is made of a non-metal material.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first tray and the

second tray is made of a flexible or soft material such that the shape thereof of the first

tray and the second tray is deformed during the ice separation process and is returned

to an original shape.

18. A method for controlling a refrigerator comprising a first tray

accommodated in a storage chamber, a second tray configured to define an ice

making cell together with the first tray, and a heater configured to supply heat to at

least one of the first tray and the second tray,

the method comprising:

supplying water to the ice making cell when the second tray moves to a water

supply position;

generating ice after the water supply is completed and the second tray moves

from the water supply position to an ice making;

turning on the heater during an ice making process;

detecting opening or closing of a door during the ice making process;

when the opening or closing of the door is detected, determining whether it is

necessary to decrease a heating amount of the heater, based on a temperature 92121828.3 sensor configured to sense a temperature of the ice making cell; and when it is necessary to decrease the heating amount of the heater, reducing the heating amount of the heater, and operating a controller to:

(a) decrease the heating amount of the heater when the temperature sensed

by the second temperature sensor is higher than or equal to a second set temperature

after detecting the opening/closing of the door, or

(b) decrease the heating amount of the heater when the temperature sensed

by the second temperature sensor after detecting the opening/closing of the door is

increased by more than a second set value than the temperature sensed by the

second temperature sensor before detecting the opening/closing of the door, or

(c) decrease the heating amount of the heater when the current heating

amount of the heater is greater than a reference value.

19. The method of claim 18 comprising: maintaining the heating amount of the

heater when it is unnecessary to decrease the heating amount of the heater.

20. The method of claim 18 or claim 19 comprising: turning off the heater in a

process in which the heating amount of the heater is decreased.

21. The method of any one of the preceding claims 18 - 20, comprising:

determining whether ice making is completed; and

when the ice making is completed, moving the second tray from the ice making

position to an ice separation position. 92121828.3